Jewelry clasp or connector



June 18, 1940 A. H. LEvEsQUE 2,205,215

JEWELRY CLASP 0R CONNECTOR Filed Jan. 28, 1939 Patented June 18, 1940PATENT OFFICE JEWELRY CLASP OR CONNECTOR Arthur H. Levesque, NorthAttleboro, Mass., as-

signor to R. F. Simmons Company, Attleboro, Mass., a partnershipconsisting of Harold E. Sweet and Hayward H. Sweet Application January28, 1939, Serial No. 253,361

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to jewelry clasps and more particularly toclasps for attaching the ends of straps, bands or bracelets towristwatch bails or the like. 5 One of the objects of the presentinvention is to provide a clasp of the type indicated adapted to beeasily and quickly attached to and detached from the bail of awrist-watch while preventing its accidental detachment therefrom duringuse.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp of the Atypeindicated having means for attaching the end of a strap, band orbracelet thereto and ya pivoted hook adapted to be looped through thebail or eye on the wrist-watch to l5 connect the clasp to the watch.

Another object of the invention is to providel a clasp of the typeindicated having a latching member mounted' to rock on the clasp aboutan axis at right-angles to the pivotal axis of the il hook and adaptedto interlock with the free end of the hook to retain the latter inclosed position on the clasp. y

Another object of the invention is to provide a` clasp of the typeindicated wherein the pivoted if) latching member has a top and sidewalls which cooperate with the top and side walls of the body-member ofthe clasp to provide a smooth continuous surface therewith.

Further objects of the invention are set forth l?) in the followingspecication which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention, byway of example, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In thedrawing:

Fig. l is a view showing a ladys wrist-watch of i353 conventional typeconnected to the ends of a two-part bracelet by means of improved claspsembodying the subject-matter of the present invention;

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of one of the e!) clasps illustratedin Fig. 1 showing the hook locked in closed position on the body-memberof the clasp;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the latching member swung onits pivot to release A'i5 the end ofthe hook;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the hook swung to openposition t0 release the bail on the watch;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the clasp showing the 50 latching member inclosed position on the bodymember;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clasp illustrated withthe latching member swung upwardly on its pivot to release the end ofthe 55 hook andl showing the retaining or clamping means for attachingthe bracelet end to the clasp;

Fig. T is a transverse sectional View taken on line l-l of Fig. 2showing the vdetent-means on the latching member in engagement with oneof the flanges on the body-member to retain it in closed positionthereon;

Fig.v8 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 2showing the common pivotpin for mounting the clamping member andlatching member; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the several parts of the clasp shown indisassembled relationship.

Referring to the present drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates a ladys wrist-watch2 having loop-like ears or bails 3 at its sides to which the ends of thetwo parts Il and 5 of the bracelet are connccted by means of the presentimproved clasps 6. As illustrated in the drawing the bracelet parts Aand 5 are in the form of looped cords, but it will be understood thatthe clasps 6 may be used with any other type of band, strap, bracelet orthe like.

The two clasps 6 are of identical construction, each comprising a hollowbody-member I0 having a top wall II of ashape to conform to the contourof the bracelet cords 4 or 5 and depending side walls I2 and I3. Theside walls I2 and I3 are stepped inwardly intermediate their ends toprovide offset portions I4 and I5 with 'vertical shoulders I6therebetween. Forwardly of the shoulders IB the top wall I I is steppeddownwardly to provide an offset parallel portion I'I with aperpendicular shoulder I8 therebetween, see Fig. 9. The forwardlyprojecting oiset portion Il of the body-member It is slottedtransversely at ZI to form spaced horizontal flanges I9 and 20. Theflanges I9 and 2 are pierced with alined holes 22 adjacent one of theirouter corners and the opposite corners are cut away to provide alinedrecesses or slots 23. The opposite end of the body-member I!) isprovided with lugs 24 projecting inwardly toward each other from thelower edges'of the side walls I2 and I3.

The ends of a bracelet cord 4 or 5 are inserted into the body-member IUthrough its open bottom and are clamped thereto by a retaining member25. The retaining member 25 may be in the form of a clamping leverpivotally mounted at one end on a transverse pin 26 extending betweenthe side walls I2 and I3 of the body-member IB and having a toothed jaw`2l at its opposite end for engagement with the end of the bracelet. Asillustrated in Fig. 6, the sides of the retaining member 25 adjacent thejaw 2l are adapted to snap past the ends of the inwardly-projecting lugs24 on the side walls I2 and I3 of the bodymember I 0 which act to holdthe retaining member in clamped engagement with the end of the braceletcord 4 or 5. The retaining member 25 also serves to close the openbottom of the bodymember Il) when swung into closed position thereon.

In accordance with the present invention a hook 3U is provided on thebody-member I0 for connecting it to the wrist-watch 2 o1' the like. Thehook 36 is preferably of U-shape in plan view, and of a thickness toadapt it to closely t within the opening or slot 2| between the spacedflanges I9 and 25 on the body-member IU. The hook 3D is formed withopposite parallel legs 3I and 32 so spaced that their outside faces forma continuation of the offset portions I4 and I5 of the sides I2 and I3of the body-member I0. The end of one leg SI is formed to provide ahub-like bearing 33 having a central bore 34, while the outside face ofthe opposite leg 32 adjacent its end is slotted transversely to providea latching recess 35. The end of the leg 3I of the hook 35.! having thebearing 33 is positioned between the flanges I9 and 20 and pivotedthereto by means of a pin 36 extending through the alined holes 22 and34 in the flanges and bearing. Thus, the hook 30 is adapted to be rockedon its pivotpin 36 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown inFig. 4, or vice-versa.

A latching member 40 is pivotally mounted on the laterally-projectingends of 'the pin 26, previously described, to adapt it to rock about anaxis at right-angles to the pivotal axis of the hook 30. The latchingmember 40. see Fig. 9. has a top wall 4I and depending side walls 42 and43 so constructed and arranged as to overlie the offset portion I'I ofthe top wall II and the portions I4 and I5 of the side walls I2 and I3of the body-member Il with a close fit; the top wall 4I and side walls42 and 43 of the latching member extending outwardly to the ends of theflanges I9 and 20. The stepped portions I4, I5 and I1 of the body-memberI9 are offset or recessed to an extent equal to the thickness of themetal of the latching member 4I) so that the outside faces of the latterform a smooth continuation of the top and sides of the body-member whensaid member 40 is in` closed position thereon. An inwardly-bent flange45 at the end of the side wall 43 of the latching member 40 is adaptedto enter the alined slots or recesses 23 in the flanges I9. 2U of thebody-member I0 and in the slot 35 in the side of the leg 32 of the hook30. A detent projection 46 is provided on the inner side wall 42 of thelatching member 4l] adapted to cooperate with the under edge of theflange I9, see Fig. 7, to retain the latching member in closed positionon the body-member I0. One form of construction of the clasp having nowbeen described in detail its mode of operation is as next explained.

The end of the bracelet 4 or 5 is rst inserted into the body-member IUthrough its open bottom and attached thereto by rocking the retainingmember or clamp 25 on its pivot-pin 26 to engage its toothed jaw 2T withthe cords. The engagement of the ends of the lugs 24 on the bodymemberIIl with the sides of the retaining member 25 adjacent the jaw 2l holdsthe jaw in clamped engagement with the cord. The hook in its openposition illustrated in Fig. 4 is looped through one of the bails oreyes 3 at the side of the wrist-watch 2 and swung on its pivotpin 35 toposition the free end of its leg 32 in the slot or opening 2| betweenthe spaced anges I9 and 2U of the body-member IU. With the hook 30 inthis closed position its latching recess 35 will aline with the recesses23 at the corners of the anges I9 and 2E. The latching member 4U is nextswung on its pivot-pin 26 to cause its side walls 42 and 43 to overliethe sides of the hook 3D. During the rocking movement of the latchingmember 4D its flange 45 will enter the alined recesses 23 in the angesI9, 20 and engage the slot 35 in the hook 30 to positively lock the freeend of the hook to the body-member IU. As the top wall 4I of thelatching member 40 is seated against the top of the flange I9 the detent4B in its side wall 42 will engage under the bottom edge of the iiangeto retain the latching member in closed position on the body-member.Thus, it will be noted that the hook 30 forms a closed loop at the endof the body-member I0 embracing the bail 3 of the wrist-watch 2, and dueto the locking engagement of the flange 45 in the slot 35 in the hookthe clasp 6 is securely attached to the watch 2. The clasp 6 may bedetached from the bail 3 of the watch 2 by rocking the latching member40 to the position shown in Fig. 6 to disengage its flange 45 from theslot 35 in the hook 30. The hook 30 may then be swung on its pivot-pin36 to the position shown in Fig. 4 to release the bail 3 of thewrist-watch 2.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present inventionprovides a clasping device for securely attaching a bracelet to awrist-watch to guard against its accidental detachment therefrom. Itwill also be observed that the invention provides a clasping devicehaving a hook rockable to closed position and a latching member rockableabout an axis at right-angles to the pivotal axis of the hook wherebyany force applied to rock the hook to open position has no tendency torelease the latching member. Still further, it will be observed that thepresent improved clasping device is of comparatively simple constructionto adapt it for economical manufacture while having a pleasing andornamental appearance.

While I have herein shown a preferred form of construction of the claspby way of example, it is to be understood that modifications may be madein the structure and arrangement of its parts withoutrdeparting from thespirit or scope of the invention.

rTherefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A clasp comprising a body-member for attachrnent to the end of abracelet or the like, a substantially U-shaped hook hinged to the end ofthe body-member to adapt it to swing laterally of the body-member intoopen position and to swing in the opposite direction to close its openend against the body-member, and a latching member pivoted to thebody-member to swing in a plane at right-angles to the plane of movementof the hook and so constructed'and arranged as to adapt it to engageagainst the side of the hook to hold the latter in closed position.

2. A clasp comprising a body-member, a substantially U-shaped hookhaving one leg hinged to the end of the body-member to adapt it to swingto carry its free leg away therefrom or to swing in the oppositedirection to close the end of its free leg thereagainst, and a latchingmember pivoted to the body-member to swing across the piane of movementof the hook and so constructcd and arranged as to adapt it to slideacross the side of the hook when the latter is in closed position toretain it against opening.

3. A clasp comprising a body-member having spaced flanges at one end, apin extending between said anges, a substantially U-shaped hook havingone leg pivotally mounted on said pin to adapt its opposite leg to swinginto the opening between the flanges, and a latching member mounted onthe body-member to rock about an axis at right-angles to the pivotalaxis of the hook to overlie the side of the free end of the hook tolatch it in closed position.

4. A clasp comprising a body-member having spaced flanges at one end, apin extending between said anges, a U-shaped hook having one legpivotally mounted on said pin to adapt its opposite leg to swing intothe opening between the flanges, and a latching member mounted on thebody-member to rock about an axis at rightangles to the pivotal axis ofthe hook and having side walls overlying the sides of the hook.

5. A clasp comprising a hollow body-member for receiving the end of abracelet or the like, means for clamping the end of the bracelettherein, a hook having one end hingedly connected to one end of thebody-member and a loop-portion projecting outwardly therefrom, said hookbeing rockable on the body-member to swing its free end away from thebody-member into open position or to swing toward the body-memberadjacent the end thereof into closed position, and a latching memberhingedly mounted on the bodymember to rock about an axis at right-anglesto the axis on which the hook is hinged to overlie l the side of thefree end of the latter to latch it in closed position. v

6. A clasp comprising a hollow body-member for receiving the end of abracelet or the like, means for clamping the end of the bracelettherein, a substantially U-shaped hook having one end hingedly mountedon the body-member and a loop-portion projecting outwardly therefrom,said hook being rockable on the body-member to swing its free' end awayfrom the body-member into open position or to swing toward thebody-member adjacent the end thereof into closed position, and achannel-shaped cover-member hingedly mounted on the body-member to rockabout an axis at right-angles to the axis on which the hook is hinged tooverlie the sides of the hook to latch it in closed position.

7. A clasp comprising a hollow body-member adapted for receiving the endof a bracelet or the like and having spaced fianges at one end, meansfor clamping the end of the bracelet therein, a pin extending betweensaid flanges, a U-shaped hook having one end hingedly mounted on saidpin and a loop-portion projecting outwardly from the body-member, saidhook being rockable on said pin to swing its free end away from thebody-member into open position or to swing toward the body-memberadjacent the side thereof into closed position, and a channelshapedcover-member hingedly mounted on the body-member to swing about an axisat rightangles to the axis of the pin to overlie the sides of the hookto latch it in closed position.

8. A clasp for attaching the end of a bracelet to the bail of awrist-watch comprising a hollow body-member for receiving the end of abracelet and spaced anges projecting from one end thereof, said flangeshaving alined recesses at one edge thereof, a pin extending between theanges, a pivoted jaw for attaching the end of the bracelet to thebody-member, a U-shaped hook having one end pivotally mounted on the pinto adapt its opposite free end to swing into the opening between theflanges, said hook having a transverse slot adjacent its free endadapted to aline with the recesses on the sides of the flanges, and alatching member pivoted at one end to the body-member to adapt it torock about an axis at right-angles to the pivotal axis of the hook andhaving a projection engageable with the alined recesses and slot in theflanges and hook to latch the latter to the body-member.

ARTHUR I-I. LEV'ESQUE.

